Huntington Ravine has MODERATE avalanche danger. Natural avalanches are unlikely and human triggered avalanches are possible. Use caution is steeper terrain.

The summit picked up another 4cm(1.6in) of new light density snow since sundown yesterday with strong WNW winds. These winds have had little trouble moving large amounts of snow around as most of the upper mountain is sporting a slick crust to which snow has a hard time sticking. Down in Tucks this crust is covered in many areas by windslab of different ages although it was still visible yesterday in a variety of locations. Recent digging on the northern side of Tucks found a faceted layer between the crust and a layer of older windslab above it. Avalanches could step down to this weak layer today if they begin moderate to large in size. Areas in the direct lee of WNW and NW winds such as the Headwall, Lip and Bowl are on the upper end of their current rating. Realize that as NW winds slow in speed this afternoon you should expect to see snow deposited higher around the Ravines. Just because you went up one way without incident doesn't guarantee the same conditions or safe passage on the way down.

Observations this morning found large areas in Huntington Ravine to be scoured to old surface as they were yesterday. Winds in the Fan were actually blowing from the S as they recycled off of the southern wall and eddied back into the floor. This tells us that we can expect to see crossloading occurring hence the Moderate rating on the south side of the Ravine. The gullies on the northern side of the Ravine likely have had much more direct loading and are toward the upper end of the Moderate rating. It is likely that in both Ravines you will find old surface in close proximity to new windslab.

Very hard icy surface conditions exist in many places on the mountain under thin snow cover. Crampons and an ice axe are a must for safe travel on any angled terrain. With that said self arrest will be very difficult so move slow and methodically.

THE LION HEAD WINTER ROUTE IS OPEN. Mountaineering skills and equipment are required for safe travel on this route. The John Sherburne Ski Trail has improved with new drifted snow, but you should still expect hidden hazards such as water ice and rocks.

As always, this advisory is one more tool to help you make your own decisions in avalanche terrain. It should be used along with your own snow stability assessments, knowledge of safe travel techniques, skill in reading mountain weather's effect on the snowpack, and avalanche rescue. To improve these skills take an avalanche course. We have all the avalanche courses offered in and around the Mt. Washington Valley this winter on our website, tuckerman.org.